Nashville Police receives CALEA award

Nashville is just one of seven cities to earn the coveted Tri-Arc Award from the Commission on Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

The award is given to cities that have concurrent CALEA accreditation for their law enforcement, public safety communications and public safety training agencies.

During its Fall meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado, CALEA accredited the Metropolitan Police Department’s Training Academy for a three-year period ending in 2014.

The Commission took the action after reviewing the report of an August Metro Police Department Training Academy inspection by two CALEA assessors, and after hearing from Chief Steve Anderson and Training Academy Captain Harmon Hunsicker, who appeared before the panel.

In their report to the Commission, the assessors, who spent four days in August examining and reviewing all aspects of the academy’s policy, procedures and operations, found the Training Academy to be in compliance with 158 CALEA standards. There were no non-compliance issues.

While the police department as a whole has been a CALEA accredited agency since 1995, the training academy staff, with the backing of Chief Anderson, opted to take part in the Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation Program.

Additionally, the Emergency Communications Center was also reaccredited for a three-year period ending in 2014 for its commitment to professional public safety communications. The ECC has been CALEA accredited since 2005.

“Nashville’s strong belief in CALEA and the accreditation process underscores the commitment of police and ECC staff, both sworn and civilian, to professionalism and excellence,” Chief Anderson said.